South Africa bring in new talent for white-ball matches against Afghanistan and Ireland

South Africa has decided to rest some key players during their upcoming tour of the UAE this month, where they will be playing against Afghanistan and Ireland in white-ball matches. This move is part of their preparation for the Champions Trophy. Players such as Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Gerald Coetzee, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen will not be part of the ODI or T20I squads. Instead, the management has opted to expand the player pool by including some fresh faces in the squads.

Allrounder Jason Smith, who made his T20I debut in West Indies last month, has been given a maiden ODI call-up alongside legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter, who has recovered from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Caribbean tour. The other new face is 21-year-old seam-bowling allrounder Andile Simelane, who has been part of South Africa Emerging and 'A' sides recently and has been named in both the ODI and T20I squads against Afghanistan.

South Africa ODI squad vs Afghanistan, Ireland

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Lungi Ngidi, who suffered a right calf injury during the Caribbean tour, has recovered and is expected to lead the attack but Quinton de Kock, who has not confirmed his retirement from T20Is, does not feature. Kwena Maphaka, who made his debut against West Indies, has not been included as he completes his final school examinations. Donovan Ferreira is the only other player from the West Indies T20I series who will not be on this tour, while Matthew Breetzke has been included in the T20I squad.

Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks and Simelane are part of the ODI squad against Afghanistan, but not for the ODIs against Ireland. Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton are present only for the Ireland ODIs.

South Africa T20I squad vs Ireland

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"We have decided to give opportunities to some of the fringe players as well as those who have impressed in recent weeks and months," Rob Walter, South Africa's white-ball coach, said in a statement. "This has been a deliberate move from management, in line with our goal of building a wider pool of players to choose from, as we prepare for the major ICC tournaments taking place over the next 18 months, with a long-term view on the 50-over World Cup in 2027."

South Africa ODI squad against Afghanistan

Temba Bavuma (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqabayomzi Peter, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.

South Africa T20I squad against Ireland

Aiden Markram (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad Williams

South Africa ODI squad against Ireland

Temba Bavuma (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams

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